THE LOUIS VUITTON PALM SPRINGS BACKPACK PM

Satisfying a thriving interest in monogram products while courting higher-end consumers with more expensive and exclusive leather options is a difficult balancing act, and it’s not one that Louis Vuitton has always pulled off perfectly. The brand has made strides in its leather game under the creative direction of Nicolas Ghesquiere, though, and now that monograms feel trendy again, LV has debuted at least one bag that I’m betting will capitalize on the increased interest: the Louis Vuitton Palm Springs Backpack PM.

Taking the ubiquitous LV monogram and making it feel fresh without changing it significantly is a tall order, but it’s something this design accomplishes. Stripping it of the beige vachetta leather trim that most of LV’s monograms sport helps a lot; the black leather feels luxe and sporty simultaneously, which is a combination that’s huge in seasonal fashion right now and makes the monogram feel current by association. The casual, simple backpack shape is also important, and both it and the trim remove the print from its traditional, somewhat stuffy original context. It’s a monogram bag that can appeal to consumers who weren’t old enough to buy designer bags last time monograms were cool.

The bag is part of the brand’s current Cruise 2016 collection, and we’ve already spotted it on the arms of Chiara Ferragni and Kylie Jenner, who are exactly the type young, high-profile women who can introduce Vuitton to a new group of potential customers. For my part, it’s the only Louis Vuitton bag I’ve felt drawn to in recent memory, as well as the only one I’ve thought might make sense with my own personal style. That’s not exactly a tiny shift for someone like me, who doesn’t gravitate toward logos at all.

The bag is also well-positioned in Louis Vuitton’s price structure for it to make maximum impact: at $1,650, it hits a full-on luxury price point without being as astronomically unobtainable as the brand’s leather options. The Palm Springs is a very smart addition to the brand’s lineup, and I’d love to make it an addition to my closet.